Lots of brake booster/master cylinder questions

[beancup63]

Alright I don't have a Nissan I have a Ford, built in 1963, sorry. I'm looking at using s13 brake master cylinder and booster though, it's the only thing I can think of that has a big bore and small package.

I need power brakes and I don't want to use $375 of Wilwood Brakes stuff, and I don't want to use Geo Metro stuff.

The problem I have with my Falcon is the engine bay is meant for no power brakes, a single reservoir master cylinder for 4 drum brakes, and a straight six. Now that I have a v8 and 4 discs I need more fluid (bigger bore) and I need power brakes because I just can't handle manual brakes with 4 big discs for driving around town. It's been manual brakes for 55 years, it's easy with drums but I put discs on the front and it got about twice as hard, and now that I'm putting discs on the back too it's probably going to be a lot harder than it already is and it won't be pleasant to drive around town, especially since sometimes my little sister or mom drive it.

So in my searches for small brake setups I found a Datsun510 site that suggested s13 parts so that's what I'm after now.

http://www.fordfalcon2000.com/restorati ... rakes2.JPG This is a Geo Metro setup in a 63 Falcon, not much room at all. It's about 9.5 to 10 inches between the firewall and the shock tower. The export brace is going to have to go if I want power brakes that aren't Geo parts. And I'm fine with fabbing up a tubular export brace instead of that stamped steel one.

Anyways my questions are:

1: If there's a simplish robust way to make a remote reservoir on an s13 master cylinder so I don't have to remove the export brace? I'd also be up to doing it on an s14 master cylinder since
the proportioning valve is separate as far as I understand? But the s14 only had a 15/16" bore available I think, is that true?
2: What is the shortest/smallest brake booster that an s13/z32 master cylinder can bolt up to without an adapter?
3: Are all non-abs s13's a 15/16" bore? Are most z32's the 16/16" bore? Which z32's have the 17/16" bore, the turbo ones or something?
4: Can the proportioning valve be easily fully deleted in the s13 master cylinder so I can use my own inline adjustable valve?
5: I understand the sentra brake boosters can be used with an s13 master cylinder and that can help with avoiding the driver side valve cover and the clutch cable.
6:

And most of all I'd really love measurements of as much stuff as you guys can measure if you don't mind.
measurements like

1: Total length of s13/z32 master cylinder, s14 too if that's much different or if I decide to go that route.
2: Length from mounting flange of master cylinder to the front of the fluid reservoir where it may or may not run into the export brace
3: Depth/length and diameter of various brake boosters including b12/b13/b14 sentra boosters. Abs and non-abs I'm happy to get any info y'all have on this.

Anyways sorry for all the questions but I'm trying to get this car done and since the Geo is only 13/16" and it says Geo on it I'm not interested in it.

[Hijacker]

I'll get you some measurements of my setup. I have a Z32 MC on an S13 booster. I don't have an S14 MC, but I'm fairly confident that they have the same length.

The proportioning valve is part of the MC, so I don't think there's much that can be done there. Most people who want adjustment go with custom setups.

I've never seen anyone use a Sentra booster before, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were swappable.

I'll have some measurements by the end of the day for you.

[beancup63]

Thanks for the measurements.

I heard of people using sentra boosters with s13 master cylinders for LS swaps and stuff, sounds like it's possible.

As for the proportioning valve, If it can't be removed and I need to use a Foxbody 4cyl booster with a Mustang Cobra master cylinder I'll have to cut a notch in the shock tower and try not to hit the spring.

[amc49]

I would think that any proportioning guts removed would make the valve invisible, I've done it to standalone ones before.

The problem with small OD boosters is that the smaller they get the less assist you get out of them. The diaphragm size is an effective area thing.

[beancup63]

Any little amount of assist will be appreciated.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah the non-automatic trans (manual) boosters are going to be thinner for sure. I'll see if I can take a look at mine tonight and get some measurements and pictures. I'm not aware of any remote mount reservoir option for these master cylinders.

A smaller bore would effectively give you more power, but your pedal travel is going to be longer.

[amc49]

Likely he needs more OD to move all the fluid 4 discs will need.

[beancup63]

Hundreds of guys have done the Geo Metro/Suzuki Swift booster and master cylinder on these early Falcons. It fits and works great except it's a 13/16th bore.

I've talked to a few guys with my Granada front discs and Explorer rear discs that're using the Geo setup, and they say they can lock up all 4 tires so it's moving enough fluid at that little 13/16th bore. It's going to make it super easy and a super long pedal throw.

I'm thinking right now I'm just going to use the easy cheap well documented Geo swap (with my pedal ratio changed from the massive 6:1 to a more reasonable 4.5:1 so the pedal doesn't move 6 yards before the tires lock up) and when I get bigger brakes I'm either going to have to make this s chassis stuff work, use some civic stuff, spend a s*** ton on Willwood brakes stuff or a Tilton pedal box, or just use a master cylinder from a mustang with a 1" or 1 1/16th bore.

I'd work a little harder on the s chassis stuff but without access the the bits and pieces readily available to stuff in there and see what can work and with my v8 sitting right next to the booster and the clutch cable on the other side, there's so little room and short of changing my front suspension to double wishbone I can't get rid of that shock tower.

I'm just tired of this car not moving under it's own power and I can go right down to the local NAPA and bolt this Geo setup in my car and change my pedal ratio and go do some well earned burnouts.

I'm still open to some measurements if you guys have the parts out of your cars, I'm sure other people are going to be able to use them too.

The main problem is the booster but if there's a sentra booster or something that's small enough I'd be willing to chop the shock tower brace out and put a notch in the shock tower to get the larger bore of the S13 or Z32 master cylinder.

Unfortunately I'm confined in both length and width so the Geo looks like my only option at the moment.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Welp, here you go. Measurement goes back to the firewall, behind the pinch weld/shelf thing on the S13. I would imagine you could tuck it farther back if you were creative.


Even got the QR code on the booster.